Lena Lunsford was taken into custody by authorities in Pinellas County, Fla., where she is awaiting extradition on a charge of death of a child by a parent by child abuse, Lewis County, WV, Sheriff Adam Gissy told The Exponent Telegram.

Lena Lunsford was taken into custody by authorities in Pinellas County, Fla., where she is awaiting extradition on a charge of death of a child by a parent by child abuse, Lewis County, WV, Sheriff Adam Gissy told The Exponent Telegram.

If the flood of prescription painkillers in West Virginia fueled the state’s opioid crisis, new prescribing guidelines being taught to medical students, future pharmacists and nurses are seen as critical to stemming the tide. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines to ensure patients have access to safer, more effective pain treatments while reducing the risk of opioid abuse.

If the flood of prescription painkillers in West Virginia fueled the state’s opioid crisis, new prescribing guidelines being taught to medical students, future pharmacists and nurses are seen as critical to stemming the tide. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines to ensure patients have access to safer, more effective pain treatments while reducing the risk of opioid abuse.

Five years into her sobriety, Elly Donahue is more than willing to give credit where it’s due. “Drug court was my first step to recovery,” said Donahue, who graduated from drug court in 2013. “It’s what pushed me in that direction. I’d been in and out of rehab numerous times before, but drug court makes you accountable and responsible for your actions. It’s what I needed.”

Five years into her sobriety, Elly Donahue is more than willing to give credit where it’s due. “Drug court was my first step to recovery,” said Donahue, who graduated from drug court in 2013. “It’s what pushed me in that direction. I’d been in and out of rehab numerous times before, but drug court makes you accountable and responsible for your actions. It’s what I needed.”

A former caseworker in Logan, West Virginia, has admitted to filing fake claims to more than $58,000 in government benefits from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

Shannon Collins, 41, of Logan, pleaded guilty Monday, July 21, in U.S. District Court in Charleston to defrauding DHHR.

Collins, also known as Shannon Varney, worked in DHHR’s Logan County office.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said Collins used Social Security numbers of two dead people to set up bogus accounts in 2009 that she used to submit claims and then had the benefit checks mailed to her. She also obtained Mountain State Cards, formerly known as food stamps, which she used from April through December of 2009.

She faces up to 30 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $500,000 at sentencing, which is set for Oct. 29.

The investigation was conducted by the West Virginia DHHR, assisted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Offices of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Agriculture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik S. Goes is handling her prosecution.